Flush-tank bulb



May 8, 1928. f 1,668,803

. l F. A. clsol. ET `nu.

FLUSH TIANK BULB Filed March 26. 1924 Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

FRANK A. lCIGoL, PATERSOJ',` NEW JERSEY, AND FRED THOMAS ROBERTS, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSHIGNORSTO `PARAMOUN'III RUBBER CONSOLIDATED,` INC., p OF TUCKAHOE, YORK, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

'FLUSHJTANK BULB.

Application filed `March 261, 1924. Serial No. 701,924

' This invention relates-'to hollow rubber articles together with the method of making them and refers articularly to articles such as flush tank bulbs.

The ractice heretofore of making flush tank bulfbs has been to employ a soft rubber lowerportion which is arranged to engage valve seat. To hold this pliable material so as to enable it to retainthe original shape, the practice has been to employ a comparatively rigid upper portion which is adapted to receive a lift rod. The rigid material is not well adapted for effecting a tight closure with the valve seat`,`wherefore such bulbs are notreversible. y

One of the objects of our invention, there,n fore, is the provision of a Hush tank bulb which is so made that the entire `wall therefore is sufficiently flexible to effect a tight seal irrespective of which end of the bulb is downward while internal means are provided tocause the bulb to retain the original shape. which is reversible and which is therefore r capable of-doubling the period of available use.

7e accomplish the above object by making both portions of the bulb of tlexiblematerial and of sufficiently thick rubber and providing a diaphragm extendingacross the interior, dividing the bulb into substantially upper and lower halves. We provide a spud in each end of the bulb, each of which spuds is adapted to receive the usual lifting rod. The spuds being placed at the opposite ends of the vertical axis, when one is in engagement with the lifter, the other in no manner interferes with the bulb seating against its valve seat.

Openings are made through the rubber aligning with the bore of the spuds to connect the corresponding internal space with the atmosphere. However, the upper space is closed by reason of the lift-er rod, which may be provided with a gasket to make a tight lit with the spud it occupies. W'e thus provide a closed air chamber in the upper half of the bulb. This helps to hold whichever half is uppermost comparatively rigid while allowing the lower half to be sufficiently pliable to readily seat against the annular valve seat.

In the manufacture of the bulb, we prefer to seat rubber .Stock pneumatcally in mold In this wav we provide a bulb cavities, reinforcing the same, either externally before seating or internally after seating, with'material adapted properly to embrace and support the spuds. Then we place in the lower lined cavity a substance adapted to produce a gas when the articleV thesheets separating them `from the surrounding? material and at the same time joining all three portions by a single peripheralseam. `VVe then transfer the article to a vulcanizing mold and vulcanize by heat ing, incidentally producing the internal gas which forms the proper vulcanizing pressure. y y

The invention covers the article having features by .which we attain the desirable characteristics noted. This will all be more fully set forth in the following description, which pertains to the accompanying drawing. The essential characteristics of our invention will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a. vertical section of a flush tank bulb made in accordance with our invention, shown in position in a flush tank; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of our bulb in a different'shape; Figs, 4 and 5 are vertical sections through bulbs of various shapes made in accordance `with our invention.

In the drawings, we have illustrated various shapes of round flushtank bulbs, each having portions l() and 1l and an internal diaphragm 12, all of which are united by a single peripheral seam 13. Each portion of the bulb is `thickened at its pole, as indicated at 14;, 'and car-ries a spud l5. are illustrated as being of a standard form, having grooved exteriors and longitudinal bores which are threaded to receive lifter rods. After the manufacture of the article, the rubber across the inner face of the spud is perforated in alignment with the bore of the spud to `allow access to the interior.

In Fig. 1, we have indicated at L, a lifter These spuds u gasket 1 against the upper end or the Spud 15 wheiieby an airtiglit connection is madel The air in the upperl chamber is of atmospheric pressure while the air in the lower chamber willbe somewhat'ra-riied due to the -iictionf'o'f suction-in the discharge pipe.

`)end which causes the diaphragm 12 :to downwardly somewhat, as illustrated in F19'. 1. This view indicates at T1 any usual flus i tank having the discharge pipe-t, at' the per end of which is an annular' valve seat '151.

Figs. 1 4and il :show the bulb completely spherical. Figs. 2 and 3 `show it of sphereconical form and Fig. 5 of double conical form. In afll of Ithese cases there is the diaphragm Separating the body into twoY cham` bers and the two spuds in the two pol-ar reg-ions, `and either s pud may be engaged lby the screw `threaded lifter rod. The bores of these epuds also furnish convenient means b v which they may be anchored in the moulds by, suit-ably inserted pins during the process of manufacture.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood thatwe have provided a flush tank bulb comprising a hollow rubber' article having pliable wal-ls, which may be used` either end up-tlie diaphragm and upper air chamber giving it sufficient resista-nce ragainst collapse, VThis reversible `characteristie practically doubles the life of the bulb.

Moreover a bulb made in accordance with our invention is well adapted: for manufacture by the very economical process described, wlierein the rubber stock is seated by suction within a mold cavity and is held therein while the cooperating sections are brought together to form the article.

1'# A double ended rubber Hush tank bulb having .Spuds at its top and bottom respectivelyand a rubber diaphragm dividing the bulb into two chambers.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a hollow rubber. flush tank bulb made of two .cupshaped sections vulcalized together and an internal. rubber diaphragm in the form of ay disc having its edges vulcanized to the bulb at the seam.

3. A double ended rubber flush tank bulb having attaching devices embedded in its two polar regions and an internal rubber diaphragm dividing the bulb, into upper and lower chambers, there being openings from tbe exterior into said chambers, the up er of said openings being closed bythe. 1i ter rod.

4;. A double'ended rubber flush tank bulb having spuds embedded in its upper andv lower polar: regions vand, an internal. rubber diaphragm vulcanized Vin place at itsV edges and dividing the bulb into upper and lower chambers.

Signed this 16th dayk of. February 1924. FRAN-K A. CIGQL. y FRED THQMAS. ROBERTS? 

